IUSA, unopposed?

This year, the IU student government elections are a little different than they’ve been in the past.

Namely, there’s only one party running.

IU Student Association did announce late Tuesday evening that write-ins would be allowed in the upcoming election if any opposing party submitted an application by 5 p.m. Sunday.

However, given that the week is almost finished and that no one has emerged yet, this gesture is seeming more and more empty.

Less than one week is hardly enough time for an entire opposition to come together, especially in opposition to one that’s already been campaigning since last year, when they were first elected.

So, Movement for IUSA is, as of now, unopposed.

On the one hand, this is only student government.

One could argue that who, exactly, is in power doesn’t matter much or that we can’t get that much accomplished anyway.

Sometimes it seems that the only things the student government can actually manage to get done are small victories at best: cutting the budget by $453, a few eco-friendly bikes in the SRSC here, a digital information screen in the library there.

Our current leadership, made up of the “Big Six” ticket led by Justin Kingsolver, did recently pass the “Lifeline” law. This was, by all means, a major accomplishment. We can all agree that, although there might be places in which the law could be tweaked or filled in, this is a long overdue step toward student safety at IU, especially in combination with Hoosier P.A.C.T. I applaud all involved in the effort.

On the heels of this widely publicized success, however, the student body seems to be getting a bit lazy.

Movement is not only running unopposed as of now, but it is also recycling current members of IUSA leadership. Its executive council is made up of members who are all, with the exception of one person, serving under the current ticket.

Only sophomore Casey Baker is not a part of current IUSA leadership, making her the only new blood set to join.

Once again, this continuation could be seen as a positive: a way for IUSA to continue the projects it is currently pursuing.

However, the lack of new members also means a lack of new ideas and a lack of new representation.

Their mission aims to “protect student rights, enrich student life, and improve the University as a whole. Students join together to voice common concerns, hopes, grievances, and, most importantly, to take action to realize an even stronger community,” according to the IUSA’s “About Us.”

Is it possible to do all of this — to provide true representation of the campus community and to “join together” — if our representatives are so confined within one group, in one political clique?

I would say no.

“For years now, IU has tended toward a president-centric mindset,” said outgoing president Luke Fields in 2009.

Judging by how much coverage is given to executive elections, this still rings true. IUSA Congress and Supreme Court can’t carry all the weight of representation and diversity in our student government.
 
The candidates’ personal biographies further reveal all to be involved in the greek system at IU and all but one to be majoring in finance in the Kelley School of Business.

Only presidential candidate Kyle Straub is not in a greek house, although he is involved in professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi.

Vice President of Congress candidate Stephanie Kohls is the only member of the executive party not in Kelley, although she is majoring in nonprofit management.

I assert that this executive council is in no way representative of the diverse interests, affiliations and backgrounds of the students of IU.

I am somewhat disturbed that they are, at this point, representing — unopposed — the interests of a campus of 30,970 undergraduates. 

Though they all seem to have proven their merit as leaders in their past experiences with IUSA, this doesn’t automatically qualify them as ideal candidates.

When only about 17 percent of undergraduates choose to participate in greek life, why is there only one non-greek candidate to represent us??

Moreover, when only 72.1 percent of students identify as white, why is there not a single minority candidate on the executive council of five? 

I don’t expect anyone to step up to the plate against Movement. The extended deadline IUSA has offered is incredibly unrealistic.

However, I do urge the student body to be especially conscientious of its leadership in the face of what will likely be our one-party election.

I’m sure Movement will do its utmost to represent the student population at IU.

But because of the candidates very limited range of backgrounds, areas of study and their similar histories of extracurricular involvement, I hope they exercise great caution and call on their fellow students often when making decisions that their similarities could possibly bias.

Running unopposed decidedly does not mean that you have the full support of the student body. It means you must work that much harder to discern what it is your peers truly want and need.

­— kelfritz@indiana.edu